Carrying cases



Oct. 6, 1959 C. DOPPELT CARRYING CASES v ZFNTOR/ @[m e Filed 00'0. 1.7, 1957 ,r -anu-w i NH , CARRYING CASES Charles Doppe lt, Highland Park, Ill. Application October 17, 1957, Serial No. 690,712 r 4 Claims. (Ct. 190-s1 This invention relates to improvements in carrying cases.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an attache carrying case with a compartment whose depth may bevaried.

Another objectof this invention is to provide a-carrying case with a lid which is extensible and collapsible in the direction of its depth for the purpose of increasing or decreasing the capacity of the case. Anotherobject is to provide an attachcarrying case with a lid which carries a plurality of extensible and contractable pockets, and which has means permitting extension of the lid in the direction ofits depth when the pockets are loaded.

More specifically this invention comprises an attach carrying case provided with ,a lidwhich includes a bellows section and which lid supports a plurality of extensible pockets. The lid is provided with adjustablefstrap means which limitsand controls the degree of expansibility of the bellows sections to increase .or decrease the capacity of the compartment of the carrying case.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view partly in section of the case in expanded position.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view partly in cross section showing the case in collapsed position and showing in dotted lines the case in expanded position.

. Fig. 3 is *an elevated view of the side of the case in collapsed position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the cross sectional portion of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view of a portion of the case in open position and showing the pockets expanded, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of strap. 7

The carrying case includes a base or body portion generally indicated at 10 which is of rectangular shape and formed of a rigid bottom wall 12 formed of a stiffened material and a border or frame 16 made of wood, plywood or the like which surrounds the bottom wall. The bottom wall and border or frame are secured together and covered on the outside and inside by a cover ing of leather or imitation leather 18 and 19. The open end of the frame 16 has a recessed lip 20 extending all the Way around to accommodate the lid.

United States Patent the lid 22 is a strip of leatherwor the like which extends Patented Oct. 6,1959

2 made of wood, plywood or the like whichfis separate and distinct from the inner frame 26 but which sees nected thereto "by the coverings 33 and. 39 and which forms a bellows section connection 3-2 between the outer and inner frames 26 and 30. The bellows connection 32 is formed only of the coverings 33 and 39 and folds inwardly as best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 when the lid is collapsed and openly expands when the case is tended as shown in Fig. 1.

Thelid 22 is hingedly connected to the back of the body portion 10 of the case by continuing the coverings 33 and 39 rearwardly, and providing a rear extension and stitching said extension along a line of stitch to the outside covering 18 along the rear wall of the bottom frame 16.

Secured to the inside of the lid are a plurality of expansible pockets generally indicated at 36. The pockets are formed by twoside flexible gu'ssets 38,. between which are stitched or otherwise secured in spaced relation a l plurality of partitions or walls 40 made of a fibre board having a degree of rigidity. The inner ends of the side gussets are stitched or otherwise secured as at 42 to the inside of the lid. The front wall 44- of the expansible pockets is preferably made of a more rigid material than the partitions 4t]. 1 t 1 h Secured to the bottom of the inside end wall 24 of under the partitions 40 and 'is secured to the front wall 44. This forms the bottom wall for the pockets 36. The pockets thus formed are for receiving papers, documents and the like and said pockets due expansible and contractible.

. Secured to each of the opposite sides of the. inner frame 26 of the lid under the leather covering 33 ',by

rivets 50 are str-aps52 and 54- which pass across thebeh lows section 32 and through a slot 56 in eachof the sides of the outer frame 30 of the lid and then "extend in-- wardly thereof a substantial length. The strap 52 is provided with a plurality of spaced male fasteners 58 and strap 54 is provided. with a single female fastener 60 so that the inner or free ends of the straps may be connected together as best shown in Fig. 2. The female fastener 60 may be made connected to any of the spaced male fasteners 58 to provide for longer or shorter straps and the straps extend across the front of the front Wall 44 of the expansible pockets 36 and serve to permit the expansible lid 22 to be collapsed or expanded for the following purpose. When the compartment of the case is filled with material to be carried or the pockets 36 are filled'so that expansion of the lid is desired, the free ends of the straps 52 and 54 are disengaged from each other and the lid is fully or partially expanded by permitting the straps to slide outwardly through the slots 56. The free ends of the straps are then connected together along their adjusted position by engagement of the female member 60 with any of the male members 58. When there is no need for an expanded lid the straps may be connected together in a taut relationship to The lid generally indicated at 22 is of rectangular of the frame 26 is covered by an inner covering 39. The lid also includes an outer rectangular shaped frame 30 on the inside of each side of the case.

hold the lid in its fully collapsed position and prevent expansion of the bellows section 32.

Conventional collapsible hinge means 62 are secured One end of the hinge 62 being connected to the outer frame 30 of the lid and the other to the frame 16 of the base or body 10. The hinge means 62 permit the lid to be opened and held in opened position. Secured to the top of the outer frame 30 of the lid are a pair of hinged hasps 64 which are connected to conventional locking means 66 on the front of the frame of the bottom frame 16 for locking the case.

In Fig. 6 a modified form of strap is shown. The outer ends of the straps 68 and 70 shown in Fig. 6 are corn to the gussets 38 are nected to the lid the same manner previously described and said straps extend through slots in the lid and into the case as previously described. However to the inner end of strapv 68 there is fixedly connected a conventional buckle 72 and the free end of the strap 70, passes through the buckle for locking engagement therewith. This permits connecting the straps together anywhere along the length of one of the straps foraccomplis-hing the same purpose as heretofore set forth with respect to straps 52 and 54.

As is clear from the foregoing the lid 22 is expansible and contractible in the direction of its depth as is also the expansible pockets 48. The adjustable straps 52 and 54 or 68 and 70 in addition to providing a support for the expansible pockets 48 serve to hold'the lid in its fully collapsed position, or to limit the expansion of the lid to that desired or to permit full expansion of the lid.

It will beunderstood that various changes and modifications may be made from the foregoing without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A carrying case having a body portion and a lid hinged thereto and providing an interior compartment, said lid having a pair of frame members connected together by a flexible material infolded to provide for expansion and collapsing of said lid, straps secured to one of said frames and passing through openings in said other frame and extending into the interior of said case, means on said straps in the interior of said case for adjustably connecting the front ends of said straps to hold said lid in collapsed position or to permit partial or full expansion of said lid for varying the depth of the compartment of said case.

2. A carrying case having a body portion and a lid hinged thereto and providing an interior compartment, said lid having a pair of frame members connected together by a flexible material to provide a bellows for expansion and collapsing of said lid, a plurality of expansible pockets secured to theinside of said lid, straps fitwi to one of said frames and passing throughopenings in said other frame and extending into the interior of said compartment and across the front of said pockets, means for adjustably connecting the front ends of said straps inside said compartment to limit the degree of expansibility of said bellows ands'aid pockets.

3. A carrying case having a body portion, a lid hinged thereto, and a bellows section secured to said lid and positioned between said lid and said body portion all providing an interior compartment, straps secured to said lid and extending adjacent the bellows section and into and across the interior of said compartment for limiting the expansibility of said bellows section to increase or decrease the depth of said compartment, and means on said straps inside said compartment for adjusting the length of said straps.

' 4. A carrying case having a body portion, a lid hinged thereto and a bellows section secured to said lid and positioned between said lid and said body portion all providing an interior compartment, a plurality of expansible pockets secured to said lid and extending into said compartment, straps secured to said lid and extending adjacent the bellows section and into said compartment and across the-front of said expansible pockets for limiting the expansibility of said expansible pockets and for limiting the expansibility of said bellows section to in? crease or decrease the depth of sad compartment, and means on said straps inside said compartment for adjusting the length of said straps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,081,014 Burchess Dec. 9, 1913 1,889,765 Switkes Dec. 6, 1932- 2,163,116 Derman June 20, 1939 2,595,089 Litton Apr. 29, 1952 2,782,890, Powell et al Feb. 26, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,101,785 France Apr. 27, 1955 we a 

